Death of Boa constrictor amarali (serpentes, boidae) after ingestion of a tree porcupine (rodentia)

The objective of this paper is to report the death of a Boa constrictor amarali after ingestion of a tree porcupine. The animal was donated to the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP/UNESP) - and died in captivity. At necropsy, spine-like structures were observed in the stomac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
Main Authors: A. L. Cherubini, T. H. Barrella, R. J. da Silva
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: SciELO 2003
Subjects:
serpente
boidae
porcupine
feeding
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Toxicology. Poisons
RA1190-1270
Zoology
QL1-991
Arctic
Boa
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-91992003000100009
https://doaj.org/article/d8e3804e42ba43a0b66cec0055f0f3c5
Description
Summary:The objective of this paper is to report the death of a Boa constrictor amarali after ingestion of a tree porcupine. The animal was donated to the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP/UNESP) - and died in captivity. At necropsy, spine-like structures were observed in the stomach serosa and vicinity, and the stomach mucosa showed an intense reddish area, suggesting inflammation. The analysis of the spine-like structure revealed that they were tree porcupine spines. The feeding habits and inexperience of this Boa constrictor amarali in selecting its prey may have been be responsible for its death.

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